when was the last time you did something for the first time?

March 12, 2007 

This is a very catchy questions in last year’s Starbucks planner. If you happen to pop this question a week ago, I would have taken me quite a time to answer. I might not even answer. But lo and behold, last weekend I did many things for the first time. Good for me!

It has been part of my 2007 re-SOUL-utions to travel alone. With all the summer plans(read: no much time and money left) I was quite pessimistic that I can push through this idea anytime soon. But I read a thread in GTalk regarding traveling alone. Since there was nothing planned for the weekend, I decided that it will be the time that I will travel alone in a new place I’ve never been before.

“No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself, depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strengths.”

Of course there were many drawback the last minute. I was too sleepy to prepare. Plus there are still many books to read. DVDs to watch. Room to clean. The money I can  use to buy a good pair of swimsuit instead. Also, there are only a few people: Michele, Maui, Jo-Ann and Marilyn who knew I had this plan and it’s not really a big disappoinment for them if I didn’t continue. But I decided to push through. Now or Never. If I don’t do it and wait for another free weekend to come, I may never have the drive or the sponteneity spirit.

So, off I went to Cubao with books in hand. Boarded a Dagupan bus and went to visit the Our Lady of Manaoag Church. It was not your typical-back-pack travel. Just some lone time to contemplate, think, feel that your time is really YOUR time.

Why Manaoag? Well, no particular reason really other than it’s a travel I can do in a day. No more bookings or overnight things to pack.

It was a very self-liberating experience (plus the thought that I proved something to those who challenged me…hehe). It was not really a spell-bounding scenery. I guess, the special part for me was when I prayed with all my heart’s content. There were many people there all praying, perhaps thanking, atoning for some sins, wishing, wishing, wishing and wishing. When I was lighting candles I really had no particular wishes in mind. Honestly, I’m really scared of making wishes. They might just come true when I needed otherwise. So I just prayed for what I felt my friends are praying for themselves.

But I realized all I wanted, like the rest of those who paid respect there, is the sense of hope that there lies something better waiting for me. It’s just all about keeping the faith and having the hope burning. As Matthew 11:24 says: Whatever you ask for in prayers, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. This is my favorite passage since grade school .

Whatever I had thought, learned, questioned, did over that trip I could have done some other time somewhere else but I’m thankful anyway that I did it.